Robinson, Nick (Nick T.) (1998) Major government, minor change : the politics of transport, 1990-1997. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

This thesis looks at the politics of transport in the Major era, arguing that transport
has emerged as an issue of high political salience in the 1990s. In this period
transport, and most particularly the motor car, increasingly came to be blamed for a
combination of economic and environmental problems including rising congestion,
noise, land-use impacts and a deterioration of air quality and traffic safety standards.
The primary. aim of this thesis is to explain these developments and their effects by
utilising agenda setting theory.
This thesis argues that the operation of the agenda setting dynamic in the transport
case illustrates aspects of a number of models of agenda setting. It looks at the role of
actors, problems, external events and non-decision making and argues that, in part,
they all make a useful contribution to the study of political change in the Major era.
However, it also argues that different models of agenda setting apply in different
circumstances and that a model which may provide a useful explanation of situation A
may provide a less satisfactory explanation of situation B. The explanation for this is
that transport is a multi-faceted issue which affects mobility, the environment, and
economic development as well as issues of lifestyle and personal freedom; the
priorities which central government attaches to transport policy outcomes reflect this
diversity. These different aspects of the transport issue are affected by different
agenda setting processes, depending on the extent to which they challenge the
dominant policy imperatives of the state. For example, in a situation in which the
policy imperatives of the state are threatened, the agenda setting process will be
highly constrained and proponents of change, will find it very difficult, if not
impossible, to alter the agenda. In such a case, the models of non-decision making
will be an important, often the dominant, explanation of the agenda setting process.
Overall, this study argues that the transport agenda setting process operates in, and is
constrained by, a policy making environment which is dominated by the policy
imperatives of the state.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1979-1997, Transportation -- Political aspects -- Great Britain, Transportation -- Law and legislation -- Great Britain
Official Date:	May 1998
Dates:	Date Event May 1998 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of Politics and International Studies
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Grant, Wyn
Sponsors:	University of Warwick
Extent:	xii, 375 leaves
Language:	eng

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